Clinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Series: Ethics & Boundaries: “Wait, I’m not prepared for this!”, Hot Topics in Couples Counseling

October 8, 2025

This interactive workshop will dive into the ethical complexities of working with couples throughout different developmental phases of their relationships. This session will explore ethical considerations and practical applications for real-world couple therapy scenarios. We will examine key issues such as confidentiality, boundaries, contraindications, cultural competency, and ethical considerations for telemental health. Through a combination of lecture, case conceptualization, and interactive elements, participants will enhance their ability to navigate some unique ethical dilemmas that arise in couples work, ultimately strengthening their practice and ethical decision-making.

This conference is being held virtually.

Target Audience

This course is intended for mental health practitioners, including physicians, marriage and family therapists, social workers, professional counselors, and other interested health care professionals.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

  1. Identify and describe common ethical considerations when working with couples.
  2. Recognize concerns related to contraindications, confidentiality, and boundaries in couples therapy and be able to navigate them appropriately.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural competency when working with diverse couples.
  4. Address ethical considerations related to telemental health with couples.
     

 

 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 4.00 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 4.00 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 4.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 4.00 American Psychological Association (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Course opens: 
01/01/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2025
Event starts: 
10/08/2025 - 9:00am CDT
Event ends: 
10/08/2025 - 1:00pm CDT
Cost:
$100.00
Part of: 
Clinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Series 2025
Add to calendar: 
Rating: 
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Virtual via Microsoft Teams
United States

Faculty

Shelly Smith, LMFT; United Counseling & Wellness
Kara Johnson, LMFT
Robert Marrs, MS, LMFT; Director, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Milind Mehta, MD; Internal Medicine, Aurora Psychiatric Hospital
Scott Linton, MD, LMFT; Jewish Family Services, Inc
Kim Jones, APSW; Clinical Assistant, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Linn Visscher, MA, LPC, LMFT; Family Therapy Institute Manager, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Sharon Hempel, LMFT; Psychotherapist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Robert Reff, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora BayCare Medical Centerkarin
Karin Suesser, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Meghan Bahr, LCSW-AODA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program
Marcella Blomwillis, MA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program

Disclosure

Faculty disclosures are being reviewed and will be presented to the audience in advance of the program.

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, Advocate Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Statements

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 4.00 clinical continuing education credits.

American Psychological Association (APA)
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

COAMFTE 
FTTI is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) to provide continuing education credits to LMFT’s, LPCs, and LCSWs.

Available Credit

  • 4.00 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 4.00 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 4.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 4.00 American Psychological Association (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

Price

Cost:
$100.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Registration Fees

Non-Advocate Health/FTTI clinicians$100.00
FTTI students, FTTI faculty, and FTTI clinical affiliates Free
Advocate Health teammate or independent clinicianFree

NOTE:

  • You can only pay by credit card.
  • This conference is being held virtually.  A link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event.
  • Programs will be recorded and posted online for ongoing viewing. Please turn your camera/video off if you do not want your image shared within the recorded video. If you have any concerns, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding the series, please contact Sharon Hempel at [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected]